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Post by solarrdadd on Mar 31, 2013 20:19:12 GMT -5
So did you get your xpa-5's? How did it sound? Its simply Superb !!! The difference is really huge. I also went for a Axiom VP-160 center channel and that is making it sound sweet even more. If anyone is at borderline and thinking about moving to a poweramp, don't think twice .. just go ahead and get it .. congrats and i'm glad it's all working out for you. my XPA-5 powering my M80v3's & VP180v3 fronts running at 40hz and a pair of QS8v3 surrounds keeps them all sounding incredible. the UPA-2 for the M2v3 on-walls for surround rears is incredible too! from another Axiom speaker & emotiva amp user/lover, welcome to the emotiva amp/axiom speaker users family! you are amongs friends! ;D |
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Post by bderringer on May 4, 2013 15:33:04 GMT -5
Hi Guys: I'm thinking about doing the same thing with my Denon 4308 ci and was wondering which interconnects you all use from AVR to Amp? This will be my first venture into the outboard amp and could use your help!  Thanks! |
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Post by garbulky on May 4, 2013 16:30:02 GMT -5
Hi there. IMO there is very little difference in interconects and you don't want to spend too much. I use radioshack interconnects between the avr and the power amp and cheapest thickest cables I could afford from walmart. (14-18 guage should do you just great). The sound is fantastic. There's other cables that you could try like blue jeans cables, monoprice, and emotiva cables. They will all give you good sound quality.
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Post by bderringer on May 4, 2013 18:25:45 GMT -5
Awesome, thank you! And these are just regular RCA cables, correct?
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Post by Golden Ear on May 4, 2013 19:45:34 GMT -5
Once the speaker gets the power it required, it will not increase its SQ other than dynamic and headroom which our brain translate better sound because of the extra loudness. Double blind test and curtain covering your gear and calibrated with same level I would doubt that you can tell which amp is being use. This has been done many times with old and young people with good set of ears and know their music well.
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 4, 2013 23:00:37 GMT -5
Awesome, thank you! And these are just regular RCA cables, correct? Yes, standard RCA cables, BlueJeans, Emotiva, and Monoprice that garbulky mentioned are good choices at a fair price. |
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Post by garbulky on May 4, 2013 23:59:47 GMT -5
Yes standard RCA interconnects. However if you have the xpa-5 and your reciever has XLR outputs, I would prefer to use XLR cables. Here you don't want to go with the flimsiest thinnest looking thing (for DURABILITY ONLY) but definitely nowhere near expensive. Monoprice, blue jeans, emotiva, and radioshack all have sufficient quality. I use monoprice XLR's for my microphones and they work without fault and are sturdy (and relatively cheap). Basically $10-30 bucks will get you a nice set.
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 5, 2013 0:29:39 GMT -5
The 4308 only has RCA connections.
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Post by phatfos1 on May 5, 2013 1:05:05 GMT -5
I think money spent on quality (i.e. shielded) speaker cable and certainly interconnects is well spent. I would never suggest someone spend four figures on either, but gold plated and shielded interconnects are highly recommended and there are physical reasons for each that are easy to understand and that have been proven to improve sound quality. Buy decent cabling. Don't buy crap that is a magnet for interference that will fall apart the first time you disconnect it. And definitely don't buy a cable that costs more than you think makes sense in your system, even if someone says its made by JHC himself. You have nice equipment so stay in that ball park with your connects and you will be happy.
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Post by bderringer on May 5, 2013 10:21:08 GMT -5
Awesome! Thank you all so much you all are great! This is the first time I am going to add an external amp to my system and for cost sake (and not having to listen to my wife, well you know) I think I am going to start with the XPA-2 for my fronts and let the Denon still handle the center and surrounds. Hopefully that will free up enough juice for the AVR. Then add a XPA 3 later if needed (and after the wife has had time to enjoy the XPA 2  ). Watch, now that I'm going to buy this Emotiva will come out with something new after buying Bob Carver LLC. Anyway, I am so excited ;D about ordering this I can't stand it! Thanks again for everyone's help! Bernie |
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Post by creimes on May 5, 2013 10:49:08 GMT -5
Awesome! Thank you all so much you all are great! This is the first time I am going to add an external amp to my system and for cost sake (and not having to listen to my wife, well you know) I think I am going to start with the XPA-2 for my fronts and let the Denon still handle the center and surrounds. Hopefully that will free up enough juice for the AVR. Then add a XPA 3 later if needed (and after the wife has had time to enjoy the XPA 2 ). Watch, now that I'm going to buy this Emotiva will come out with something new after buying Bob Carver LLC. Anyway, I am so excited ;D about ordering this I can't stand it! Thanks again for everyone's help! Bernie I found a huge improvement powering my center channel with an external amp as well so whether you go XPA-5 now or XPA-2 now and XPA-3 later you will be very happy, just remember your speakers are very efficient and you might not need the xtra power of the XPA-2 over the XPA-5, I would say save your $$$$ with buying the XPA-5 and spend some $$$ elsewhere but hey it's your choice of course and I'm just throwing an opinion your way. Hey why not go 2 XPA-1L's for your fronts.....Class A power would be sweet with those efficient speakers...... Chad |
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Post by solarrdadd on May 5, 2013 14:30:03 GMT -5
Awesome! Thank you all so much you all are great! This is the first time I am going to add an external amp to my system and for cost sake (and not having to listen to my wife, well you know) I think I am going to start with the XPA-2 for my fronts and let the Denon still handle the center and surrounds. Hopefully that will free up enough juice for the AVR. Then add a XPA 3 later if needed (and after the wife has had time to enjoy the XPA 2 ). Watch, now that I'm going to buy this Emotiva will come out with something new after buying Bob Carver LLC. Anyway, I am so excited ;D about ordering this I can't stand it! Thanks again for everyone's help! Bernie since your system setup is for HT & music my recommendation is to get the XPA-3, let it power your front soundstage (keeping them evenly powered for movies also, and more importantly giving your center more power than the receiver could for movies and your L&R get it for 2 channel music) and let the receiver do the surrounds. if i had to choose for myself, that's what i would do. give the most power to the speakers that will need it most for movies & music. the receiver can handle either your two or four surrounds (however many surrounds the receiver is rated for) no matter what you do, best of luck to you. also, you can save on space and cost too. the surrounds wont' need but a little power anyway. keep us posted. |
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Post by bderringer on May 6, 2013 6:48:33 GMT -5
Thanks guys, all great advice! Okay, I have run it by you know who and I've got her on board (well as much as one can) for the XPA-5 with one stipulation. I'm about to list for sale a rather large home so I've got to wait until it sells. The upshot of this is that the real estate market has really picked up here the Houston area so it should not be too long a wait! Heck, maybe by then Emotiva will have a sale!  Anyway, thank you all for all the great suggestions and I'll let you know the second I place the order! Damn it's gonna seem like an eternity! Geez, you would think I was 10 years old and it was the night before Christmas! ;D |
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Post by bderringer on May 16, 2013 8:57:51 GMT -5
Secret Sale today!! ;D Boohyah! Got one! Oh hell yeah! OK, now the long 3 to 4 day wait for delivery! Yep, this is like being 10 years old and being tortured with Christmas eve dragging out for 4 days.
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Post by villock on May 16, 2013 9:00:26 GMT -5
Secret Sale today!! ;D Boohyah! Got one! Oh hell yeah! OK, now the long 3 to 4 day wait for delivery! Yep, this is like being 10 years old and being tortured with Christmas eve dragging out for 4 days. ;D Very cool, you are gonna love that amp |
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Post by mshump on May 16, 2013 9:11:23 GMT -5
Isn't it amazing that buying some gear is a major ordeal, but the new couch, flowers for the front yard etc etc is no object !! LOL I informed my wife I was buying the XDA-2 this morning from the sale and could tell over the phone (currently traveling) she was none to happy !! Hopefully by the time my plane lands back home tomorrow she is over it, otherwise it will be a long weekend !!
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Post by bderringer on May 16, 2013 9:19:05 GMT -5
Isn't it amazing that buying some gear is a major ordeal, but the new couch, flowers for the front yard etc etc is no object !! LOL I informed my wife I was buying the XDA-2 this morning from the sale and could tell over the phone (currently traveling) she was none to happy !! Hopefully by the time my plane lands back home tomorrow she is over it, otherwise it will be a long weekend !! I know, what's up with them anyway! My wife can go out and spend $200 bucks on her frigin' hair or $400 on mulch and not think twice! But holy crap, don't let Dad get something that, oh yeah, everybody will enjoy! ;D Okay, that's my story and I'm gonna use it on her. Proly be sleeping with my XPA 5 for a while! Oh well, at least it can sing to me!! ;D |
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Post by garbulky on May 16, 2013 10:12:00 GMT -5
Isn't it amazing that buying some gear is a major ordeal, but the new couch, flowers for the front yard etc etc is no object !! LOL I informed my wife I was buying the XDA-2 this morning from the sale and could tell over the phone (currently traveling) she was none to happy !! Hopefully by the time my plane lands back home tomorrow she is over it, otherwise it will be a long weekend !! I hope so! Or you may have to change your avatar name to msnohump ;D |
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Post by villock on May 16, 2013 10:18:12 GMT -5
Isn't it amazing that buying some gear is a major ordeal, but the new couch, flowers for the front yard etc etc is no object !! LOL I informed my wife I was buying the XDA-2 this morning from the sale and could tell over the phone (currently traveling) she was none to happy !! Hopefully by the time my plane lands back home tomorrow she is over it, otherwise it will be a long weekend !! I hope so! Or you may have to change your avatar name to msnohump ;D LOL ;D |
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Post by mobrien on May 17, 2013 17:21:00 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this and all the feedback on this subject. I also have a Denon 3312 (waiting for XMC-1) and have been considering a XPA-5. Today I took the plunge and ordered one with the secret sale I could not pass it up! I'm so excited  Looking at the email with the tracking number, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve looking at all the presents he can't open. |
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). Watch, now that I'm going to buy this Emotiva will come out with something new after buying Bob Carver LLC.
Looking at the email with the tracking number, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve looking at all the presents he can't open.